Student Videos

Students share their views during their final project poster session, Hartford Public Library

Student Work

Students display posters on Hartford immigration – research conducted at Hartford History Center and Capital Community College Library.

Photos and text courtesy of Professor Ken DiMaggio

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  For students Besarta Qorri, Ciyvah Daniels, and Ciara Valazquez they discovered how Hartford was the home to Alfred Fuller, who founded the famous Fuller Brush Company. Mr. Fuller also had descendants that came over on the Mayflower. They also learned about Hartford's present experience with immigration, such as the Refuge Center near the college, and the immigrants it serves today. "They have a big impact on Hartford," says Besarta.

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  Students Misael Vazquez, Karisa Santos, and Chandrika Reddy learned about Ann Uccello, the first female mayor of Hartford, and also a prominent member of this city’s once thriving Italian American community. Along with learning about Ms. Uccello and Hartford’s Italian American past, these students learned about Hartford’s present Hispanic population and some institutions that are prominent in the city today. “I never knew there was a Hartford Hispanic Health Council,” said Chandrika Readdy.

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  George Keller was a prominent city architect, designing the old Hartford Public High School, and also the Civil War Memorial Arch. Keller was also the subject that students Amanda Duenas, Darwin Garcia, and Grecia Limo researched for their Immigration Capstone topic. Keller’s roots began in 19th century Ireland, which he fled when he was young during that country’s “Potato Famine.” His roots today remain in Hartford, as Duenas, Garcia, and Limo noted how his ashes are also placed in the Civil War Arch Memorial.

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  Maria Sanchez is today the name of a Hartford Elementary School. Ms. Sanchez was also one of the first Puerto Ricans to get elected to Hartford politics, noted Fikret Muskric, Tanisha Pino, and Juan Jeffrey. She came of age politically in the city when the African American and Puerto Rican communities were vying for political power, they explained. Coming to the U.S. in 1959 to work in a tobacco field in Granby, a Hartford elementary school was named after her in 1991, not long after she died and left firm political ground work for other Puerto Ricans in Hartford city politics.

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  Her name may not be familiar, but her face certainly is. Long time Hartford resident and actress, Gwendolyn Reed, was the model for Aunt Jemima pancakes, students Manuel Bourgeois, Melissa Love, and Anthony Parra explained. Ms. Reed was a long time resident of Hartford’s Bellevue Square, a former housing project that has long since been torn down. Like Maria Sanchez, Gwendolyn Reed also worked in one of Connecticut valley’s tobacco fields.

Students in the Fall 2012 ESL/COM Learning Community taught by Professors Peggy Schuyler and Jennifer Thomassen interview Kenneth Wright, former G. Fox Department Store Elevator Operator. Professor Michael Walters hosts.

Student Quotes